Tethered ball game device and surface connector

ABSTRACT

A tethered projectile, usually a ball, is tossed by hand in a manner to score when properly landed and retained on a captivetype target, a seating ring for example. An upright is provided at its lower end with an adapter bracket capable of being clamped on a stationary support member and has an arm suspending a projectile-tethering-string. The upright comprises separably connectable dowel-like sections. The arm and also the target means are detachably connected to an upper one of the aforementioned sections. The game device is of such construction that it may be located on a vertical support surface as well as on a horizontal support surface, and can also be screwed into place. The upright is vertically adjustable. The lower end is detachably connectable with a block which serves as an adapter bracket which allows the above-mentioned support by either a vertical or horizontal surface.

United States Patent Revell, Jr. et al.

[451 Apr. 18, 1972 Road; Hans W. Copony, 2733 Shippen Avenue, both of Louisville, Ky. 40206 1,987,842 l/1935 Sampson... ..248/42 1,229,260 6/1917 Haigh ..273/100 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 386,600 6/1908 France ..273/99 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson 57 ABSTRACT A tethered projectile, usually a ball, is tossed by hand in a manner to score when properly landed and retained on a captive-type target, a seating ring for example. An upright is provided at its lower end with an adapter bracket capable of being clamped on a stationary support member and has an arm suspending a projectile-tethering-string. The upright comprises separably connectable dowel-like sections. The arm and also the target means are detachably connected to an upper one of the aforementioned sections. The game device is of such construction that it may be located on a vertical support surface as well as on a horizontal support surface, and can also be screwed into place. The upright is vertically adjustable. The lower end is detachably connectable with a block which serves as an adapter bracket which allows the above-mentioned support by either a vertical or horizontal surface.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 Don H. Reva/l, Jr. Hans W Capo/1y INVIiN'I'()I($ BY ww vm TETHERED BALL GAME DEVICE AND SURFACE CONNECTOR This invention relates to game devices wherein a horizontal arm on a vertical standard or upright is provided with a depending tethering string which suspends a ball or the like which is adapted to be aimed and tossed in such a way as to land and come to rest atop a scoring target mounted on the upright and has to do with a device which features certain unique and desirable improvements.

It is old in the art to provide an upstanding upright or standard having arm means at the top supporting a ball suspending and tethering element and wherein the ball is adapted to be actuated in relation to properly oriented ring-like or equivalent targets and wherein, unlike the present invention, a hand actuated paddle is used for striking and swinging the ball. Such an adaptation and arrangement is disclosed in a patent issued to George E. Macy, US. Pat. No. 2,083,850 on June 15, 1937.

, An object of the present invention, generally stated, is to structurally, functionally and in other ways improve upon the Macy game apparatus and similarly constructed and performing prior art tethered ball game devices known but not herein specifically cited.

As will be hereinafter more fully set forth the game device herein disclosed is such in construction and capability that it lends itself to optional use in doors or outdoors and has facilities through the medium of which it may be mounted for practical use on a table, fence, door, tree, wall or similarly functioning support means. It is such in construction that it can be located on a vertical wall or support surface and screwed or otherwise fastened in place. It can be aptly used in a relatively confined space and is an innovation in that it promotes recreation, entertainment and safe and acceptable exercising for adults and children. Whereas in this field of endeavor pastime is available to participants it often happens that energy of a significant value is usually not channeled in a particularly worthwhile manner. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple, practical and feasible device which is capable of being acceptably utilized for a short or long period of time, with or without interruptions, which can be played by one person or any reasonable number of rival participants and which has been found to relieve boredom and to promote challenging skill for players of all ages.

Another object of the invention is to provide easy-to-use basically simple coacting parts which are designed and adapted to aid in socializing among players not only within particular age level groups but also in mixed age groups, whether small or large and involving both adults and children.

Briefly the game device herein disclosed is characterized by an upright which is such in construction and adaptability that it can be mounted and positioned vertically for readily available use on various relatively stationary support members. In addition to the upright or standard it embodies a first horizontal arm which is mounted on an upper portion of the upright. The outer free end of this horizontal arm is provided with an eye or the like carrying a depending flexible element which provides a tether and which is equipped at its lower free end with a projectile, for example, a ball or the like. The first arm is above and is cooperable with a second and shorter arm and the inner ends of both arms are detachably mounted on the upright. The outer or free end of the lower arm is provided with a target, for example a ring, also referred to as a ball receiving and retaining loop.

More specifically novelty is predicated on a sectional upright mad up of a plurality of axially aligned separably connected dowel-like sections. The upright is accordingly vertically adjustable. The lower end is detachably connectible with a block which serves as an adapter bracket and which in turn is such in construction that it can be mounted on a horizontal shelf, or a vertical fence or equivalent relatively stationary support members.

These together with other objects and advantages .which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspectiveshowing a fragmentary portion of a horizontal shelf, a block-type adapter bracket connected thereto, the upright and complemental parts which go to make up the overall ready-to-use tethered ball game device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view with parts broken away and ap pearing in section and which is taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 3 is a view also in perspective and similar, generally stated, to FIG. 1, but with the adapter omitted and the lower section of the upright omitted and with the other two sections screwed to a vertical support wall.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing only the lower section of the upright and the adapter bracket or block and how it is located for use when mounted on the upper portion of a vertical fence or similar support member.

With reference now to the views of the drawing the aforementioned upright or standard is denoted by the numeral 6. A preferred embodiment is the sectional construction shown wherein the upper vertically elongated section comprises a simple dowel 8 which has an axial bore 10 extending therethrough. The lower end of the section is preferably counterbored as at 12 to provide a socket. This end is provided with a radial slot 14 which is communicable with the bore and socket and which provides an entrance and exit opening. A similar slot 16 is formed in the upper end portion 18 and it too is communicable with the adjacent end portion of the axial bore 10. This slotted upper end serves to accommodate an end portion 20 and downtumed terminal end 22 of a rod which constitutes an arm 24, that is, an arm which is at right angles to the standard and terminates at its outer end 26 in an eye 28. The slotted lower end portion 14 serves to accommodate a cooperating end portion 30 of a shorter rod which provides a comparison arm 32. The right hand end of this rod or arm is provided with a lateral bend or bent portion 34 which is removably keyed in the bore in the manner shown inFIG. 2. lt will be noted that the arm 32 is shorter than the elevated arm 24 and is in spaced parallelism directly beneath the arm 24 and has a terminal end formed with an integral horizontal ring 34 which functions as a target. This ring is also referred to herein as a projectile landing and retaining hoop and functions in the manner shown in phantom lines in FIG. I. The distance between the ring or hoop 34 and the ball or projectile is predetermined and in keeping with the arrangement depicted in FIG. 1. The flexible cord or tethering element is denoted at 36 and has its upper end tied or otherwise connected at 38 to the eye 28. This tethering element is of requisite flexibility and length and the lower end is provided with a projectile, more specifically, a ball 40 of requisite size and weight. The ball is permanently attached and the length of the tethering element is precisely such as to permit one to skillfully handle the ball and in so doing to land it in a seated or set position atop the hoop 34. This dowel or section 8 is capable of being used in any of the positions shown in FIGS. 1, 3 or 4. When used in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 fastening screws 42 are provided and are passed through screw accommodation holes 44 pro vided therefor as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular.

The lower section or dowel of the upright is shorter than the section 8 and is denoted by the numeral 46 and the upper end is provided with an axial socket 48 to accommodate a suitably proportioned and reduced stud 50 on the lower end of the jointing or connecting section 52. This section comprises a short dowel the upper part of which is provided with a similar stud 54 which is plugged telescopingly into the socket 12 provided therefor, as best shown in FIG. 2.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide an adapter, more specifically, a block-like member 56. This block-like member has an upper edge (FIG. 1) at 58 provided with a socket 60 for telescoping reception of the lower end portion of the dowel or section 46, that is when the device is mounted on a horizontal shelf or the.like 62. An end portion of the block or adapter is provided with a keeper notch 64 which is fitted over the shelf and has a cooperable setscrew 66 for retaining the block in place. Another marginal edge 68 of the adapter block is provided with an optionally usable socket 70 which is capable of being used in the manner shown in FIG. 4, that is, when the block is mounted on a vertical fence, partition or the like 72. It follows that when the adapter is employed it is used on either a horizontal shelf or support member 62 or a vertical support member 72. When the adapter is omitted and also the lower section 46, the device is mounted on a vertical garage or room wall 74 as brought out in FIG. 3.

The device shown and described well serves the purposes for which it has been devised and successfully used. Repeated use has shown that it will stimulate the participants and will provide sport for all ages testing their skill and luck in a seemingly obvious manner. The game is basically simple and the method of play is clear-cut.

METHOD OF PLAY A:

1. Players must stand no closer to hoop, ring or target 34 than the distance of ball 40 from hoop when ball is hanging in the full line position (FIG. 1).

2. Each player tries to toss or swing and land the ball atop the hoop 34, counting the attempts, until the ball is seated in the hoop.

3. The player getting the ball in the hoop in the fewest number of tries is the winner. If two or more players tie on the fewest number of tries a swing off is then necessary. If another tie should ensue, another sudden-death swing ofi is necessary.

METHOD OF PLAY B:

1. Players must stand no closer to the target 34 (hoop, ring or pin) than the distance of the projectile 40 (ball) from the target when the projectile is hanging still.

2. Players determine the number of attempts each shall take (or determine a time period each player shall use).

3. Each player tries to land and seat the ball in the hoop the greatest number of times in a predetermined number of attempts, or in the predetermined time period.

4. After each player has had his turn, the player with the greatest number of catches" wins the game.

It is within the purview of the disclosed invention to substitute a ring-like hoop (not shown) for the ball 40, to eliminate the hoop 34, and to provide an upstanding hook (not shown) of a type which will function to catch and temporarily hold the hand-tossed hoop.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game device comprising an upright embodying a vertically elongated upper dowel-like section having an axial bore extending therethrough and opening through the respective upper and lower ends thereof, a first rod having its longitudinal axis disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said dowel-like section, said rod providing an arm having inward and outward ends, said outward end provided with an eye, the inward end having a depending lateral bent portion constituting a detent, the upper end of said dowel-like section having a radial slot opening through the said upper end and also through one peripheral side adjacent said upper end, an inner end portion of said rod passing outwardly through and being seated and removably keyed in said slot, the lower end of said dowel-like section being likewise provided with a radial slot opening through said lower open end and said one side and communicating with said bore, a second rod shorter than said first rod, also disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said dowel-like section and having an inner end bent laterally upward and plugged and fitted in 0 an end portion of the bore and having an adjacent portion passing through and keyed in the coacting slot and also having an outer terminal end formed with a coplanar ring constituting a target-like ballreceiving and retaining hoop, said dowel-like section being such that it can be positioned against and secured to a relatively stationary support surface, a manually actuatable projectile designed and adapted to be caught and temporarily retained for point-scoring when seated atop said target-like hoop, a flexible tether having an upper end connected to said eye and a lower free end connected to said projectile, and a relatively short dowel-like connector section having reduced axial studlike extensions at upper and lower ends thereof, the extension at the upper end fitting telescopingly into a lower end portion of said bore and serving to assist in holding said second named rod in a given position.

2. The game device defined in and according to claim 1 and a lower dowel-like section axially aligned with the aforementioned dowel-like sections and having an upper end abutting a lower end of said second dowel-like section and having an upper oriented end provided with an axial socket for reception and retention of the coacting reduced stud-like extension.

3. The game device defined in and according to claim 2 and, in combination, an adapter comprising a block, said block being adapted to be detachably connected with and usably mounted on either a horizontal or vertical support member, as the case may be, said block having adjacent right angularly related comer portions provided with selectively usable blind sockets, said sockets being disposed at right angles to each other, an adjacent end portion of said third named dowel-like section being capable of being telescopingly and removably fitted in a selected one of said sockets.

lnun'n Inn:- 

1. A game device comprising an upright embodying a vertically elongated upper dowel-like section having an axial bore extending therethrough and opening through the respective upper and lower ends thereof, a first rod having its longitudinal axis disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said dowel-like section, said rod providing an arm having inward and outward ends, said outward end provided with an eye, the inward end having a depending lateral bent portion constituting a detent, the upper end of said dowel-like section having a radial slot opening through the said upper end and also through one peripheral side adjacent said upper end, an inner end portion of said rod passing outwardly through and being seated and removably keyed in said slot, the lower end of said dowel-like section being likewise provided with a radial slot opening through said lower open end and said one side and communicating with said bore, a second rod shorter than said first rod, also disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said dowel-like section and having an inner end bent laterally upward and plugged and fitted into an end portion of the bore and having an adjacent portion passing through and keyed in the coacting slot and also having an outer terminal end formed with a coplanar ring constituting a target-like ball-receiving and retaining hoop, said dowel-like section being such that it can be positioned against and secured to a relatively stationary support surface, a manually actuatable projectile designed and adapted to be caught and temporarily retained for point-scoring when seated atop said target-like hoop, a flexible tether having an upper end connected to said eye and a lower free end connected to said projectile, and a relatively short dowel-like connector section having reduced axial stud-like extensions at upper and lower ends thereof, the extension at the upper end fitting telescopingly into a lower end portion of said bore and serving to assist in holding said second named rod in a given position.
 2. The game device defined in and according to claim 1 and a lower dowel-like section axially aligned with the aforementioned dowel-like sections and having an upper end abutting a lower end of said second dowel-like section and having an upper oriented end provided with an axial socket for reception and retention of the coacting reduced stud-like extension.
 3. The game device defined in and according to claim 2 and, in combination, an adapter comprising a block, said block being adapted to be detachably connected with and usably mounted on either a horizontal or vertical support member, as the case may be, said block having adjacent right angularly related corner portions provided with selectively usable blind sockets, said sockets being disposed at right angles to each other, an adjacent end portion of said third named dowel-like section being capable of being telescopingly and removably fitted in a selected one of said sockets. 